the train station just outside of Wilheim’s borders, we left our Zeelahs in a nearby stable and stared at the throng of people. The vendor stalls brimming with twinkling wares hinted at luxury, and the rich scents of vanilla and baked goods hung heavy in the air. For the moment, we drew little attention. Those living on the outskirts of the capital didn’t live as lavishly as those within the walls, and their simplistic yet functional attire meshed with our own traveling gear. But if we were to make it through those walls? We’d stick out like a Laharock among butterflies. Which was the exact problem Kost assured us we had to fix.
“Me neither.” Oz shifted from foot to foot, casting his glance upward at the monstrous white wall a short distance away. Crammed cobblestone houses and colorful vendor stalls ran right up to the edge, growing more luxurious in style the closer they got to the walls. As if the splendor of the city was something that could be captured by proximity and enough bits.
“We’ll be fine.” Noc placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze. I glanced up at him and tried to hide the sudden rush of anxiety that chomped on my insides. He hadn’t slept a wink in the days it’d taken us to get here. Dark veins tracked the underside of his eyes, and there was a perpetual tremor tugging at the corner of his brow. One he didn’t even seem fully aware of.
Interlocking my fingers with his, I placed a shaky kiss on his knuckles. “Of course.”
“Come on.” Adjusting his messenger bag across his chest, Kost led the way against the sea of people. “My tailor lives right up here. She’ll have what we need.”
“You have a personal tailor?” I tried to hide my smile by pressing my lips together. Of course he had his own tailor. I’d always thought his fashion sense belonged to someone of Wilheim, not an assassin thriving on black-market work.
Kost frowned. “I don’t trust anyone else to make my garments, though I’m hardly the only one she designs for.”
I gave up on fighting my grin. “Right, because the fashion outside of Wilheim is so blasé.”
“Quite.” He brushed his hands along his traveling tunic, understated but still embellished with brocades just a shade lighter than the black fabric. “To be fair, I saw some beautiful pieces during my short time in Hireath. I’d be interested to see what your tailors could do.”
My brows shot to my hairline, but Noc jumped in before I could tease further about who exactly he’d seen wearing something he admired. “Let’s go, Kost.”
“Right.” Kost turned. “This way.”
We followed close behind with no belongings in sight. As it turned out, Tok was a beast known as a Drevtrok, and his specialty was his cage. Able to reshape and re-form to adjust to what needed protecting, he could store belongings or people in his lower sphere. Furthermore, while items from our world would disappear without us in the realm, they stayed intact within Tok’s body. Which meant our travel supplies were neatly resting in his cage, safe and unassuming in the beast realm. One less thing to draw the Sentinels’ gazes. Kost only held on to his bag so he could use bits if we so needed.
Our plan was simple: sneak through Wilheim, cross Luma Lake using the pre-established path set up for nobles—apparently it was a “spiritual” trek many took during the summer months—and visit Glacial Springs where Silvis’s Ruins were located. All in all, we figured it would take two days’ time to make it happen. Wilheim was deceptively large, and we’d likely have to stop at least once after making it across Luma Lake. Timing was tight—with the first full moon of the winter exactly two nights away, we couldn’t afford any disruptions.
So Kost suggested we walk through the front door with the authority of someone who belonged there. If we tried to sneak along the outside wall, we’d be met by patrolling Sentinels and pass guard towers. It would look far less suspicious if we merely adopted Wilheimian garb and passed through the gates like the rest of its citizens.
We moved between vendor stalls, pausing only for a moment when we reached a gem dealer about halfway to Wilheim’s gates. I selected twenty or so fire opals and gestured to Kost so he could pay the man with the bits from his satchel. After money was exchanged, the dealer